RULES
1- Post Rules on Your Blog
2-Answer the Six "8" Items and Post on Blog
3-Let Each Person Know They Have Been Tagged
8 Favorite Shows
1. House, MD
2. Arrested Development (RIP...but I have all three seasons on DVD...)
3. Criminal Minds
4. The Office
5. Law & Order: SVU
6. Fringe
7. The New Adventures of Old Christine
8. How I Met Your Mother
8 Things I Did Yesterday
1. Got a super-cute new haircut (my neck is cold, though)
2. Went Christmas shopping
3. Had Justin's one year old pictures done (also, super-cute)
4. Went shopping for Thanksgiving dinner supplies (and, in doing so, single-handedly paid Danny Wegman's car payment for this month...ugh)
5. Spent $50 at Lisa's Liquor Barn...Bailey's for the Irishman coming to visit next week and two bottles of wine
6. Worked at my new position as an online facilitator for the University of Phoenix
7. Watched "The Office"...hilarious, as usual
8. Spent time with my in-laws
8 Things I Look Forward To
(Only Eight?!...OK...)
1. Bree and Eoin's visit (can't wait!!!)
2. Thanksgiving with the family
3. Seeing "Twilight" tonight in Buffalo with the girls
4. Riding this weekend...if my arm is OK
5. Finding out what the devil is wrong with my arm
6. Justin's first Christmas
7. Justin's first birthday
8. Completing my training for the University of Phoenix
8 Favorite Restaurants
1. The Kitchen Table in Burlington, VT
2. Mario's
3. Biaggi's
4. Qdoba
5. Basil
6. Aunt Cookie's
7. The Distillery
8. Brio
8 Things On My Wish List
1. To Raise a Happy, Healthy Child
2. Show Chester at the Pinto World Show in Tulsa, OK
3. A Kindle E-Reader
4. An Overhauled Horse Trailer...new paint, wiring, etc.
5. Go back to Sedona, AZ
6. See the Pittsburgh Steelers play
7. Run My Own Horse Business
8. Travel to Greece and Crete
Friday, November 21, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Adventures with Justin
Do you ever find yourself making a statement that, if overheard or taken out of context, might land you on the 6:00 local news? Trust me...if you're a parent, you know exactly what I mean.
Nine words I never thought I would say:
"Hey. Get your finger out of the cat's butt."
Yup. I said this. On Saturday. With a straight face.
No...it was not a punchline to a joke. It was me, trying to redirect my child. Justin has recently become very intrigued with buttons and, apparently, Seamus'...um...hiney closely resembled a button that needed pushing.
Any parents out there willing to share any phrases you never, ever thought you'd say, but made perfect sense once you had a child?
Nine words I never thought I would say:
"Hey. Get your finger out of the cat's butt."
Yup. I said this. On Saturday. With a straight face.
No...it was not a punchline to a joke. It was me, trying to redirect my child. Justin has recently become very intrigued with buttons and, apparently, Seamus'...um...hiney closely resembled a button that needed pushing.
Any parents out there willing to share any phrases you never, ever thought you'd say, but made perfect sense once you had a child?
Friday, October 10, 2008
Nine Month Stats
Another visit to Dr. Tomek and another list of off-the-chart statistics for J-Man:
- 27.5 pounds (97th percentile)
- 31 1/4 inches long (>97th percentile)
Dr. Tomek remarked at J's good health and thinks he may be the biggest baby in his practice at his age. We have the go-ahead to gradually start J on table food around 10.5 to 11 months old.
Justin has been doing extremely well. He is crawling, pulling himself up, cruising along the sofa, and climbing the stairs with lightning speed (all with supervision, of course). He is not fond of having his diaper changed and prefers to be stark naked. He is funny and laughs a lot. He imitates facial expressions and is talking like crazy. He does laps in the bathtub and likes to grab the washcloth and whip it around, splashing everything and everyone within a five foot radius. He loves to jump on the bed and adores his daddy. When Grandpa Simpson comes to visit, J will not let him out of his sight. He loves shopping sprees with Grandma DeBadts. He cheers for himself when a cereal puff actually makes it into his mouth, as opposed to landing on the floor. He stops in his tracks when the Marineland commercial or the weather comes on the television.
My little man is becoming his own person with likes and dislikes, distinct personality traits, and a wonderful sense of humor. He continues to bring joy into the lives of everyone he meets.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
State Fair Paint and Pinto Show
Chester and I competed at the New York State Fair two weekends ago. I have just now gotten around to uploading the pictures from the photos taken there and wanted to share them. Chester was an absolute angel in the coloseum...a place where most horses think they've gone to die and act accordingly. All Chester knew is that there were shiny lights, American flag banners, and cushy stall lined with six bags of shavings just for him...and he loved it. We did quite well in our placings, but the biggest accomplishment, in my eyes, was the fact that Chester was a dream to ride and show through both days of our classes. I could not be happier with his performances.
**Photos courtesy of Mark Pedersen and Quickshots Photography** Mad props, Mark...you rock!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
I am a self-professed book nerd. I love books. I love books more than chocolate, jewelry, and new shoes. I love to buy a new book, curl up in a chair, and lose myself in the words. It is silly for me to buy books because I finish the good ones in a day or two and those that don't grab my attention within the first few sentences get slapped onto the bookshelf never to be read at all. I guess you could say I am a Book Snob. My dream gift (besides a book...or a new horse) would be the new Kindle - the iPod of books - a portable electronic device that uploads full novels and such. It costs, like, $350, though, so it's just a dream right now.
Anyway, I am on my way to Borders today to buy "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle". Stephen King compares this book to "Watership Down" and "Life of Pi" - my two most favorite books EVER. I usually don't give much credence to critics reviews, but, (A) It's Stephen King, and, (B) The comparison to my two most favorite books of all time makes it a must-read.
Anyone have any books they would like to recommend? Let me know...
Anyway, I am on my way to Borders today to buy "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle". Stephen King compares this book to "Watership Down" and "Life of Pi" - my two most favorite books EVER. I usually don't give much credence to critics reviews, but, (A) It's Stephen King, and, (B) The comparison to my two most favorite books of all time makes it a must-read.
Anyone have any books they would like to recommend? Let me know...
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Sippy Cup
Justin is learning to use his new Sippy Cup...sort of. Right now he just chews on the spout and, sometimes, even gets some juice! Doesn't matter, though, becuase, as you can see, J-Man loves his cup regardless. If you look close enough, you may be able to see Justin's new teeth...two on the bottom. The little man is growing up so fast...
Sunday, July 13, 2008
A Sunday Off
The horse show scheduled for today was cancelled due to the impending stormy forecast. A good thing, too, because it's raining buckets right now. A full day to get stuff done around the house and, in between storm clouds, maybe ride Chester.
Next Sunday, we show at Centerpointe Stables, a farm just five minutes from our house. Yay! This is a show I usually invite those I know to come and watch, simply because it only takes a few minutes to get there. Auburn and Stanley are quite the hike for people to make, just to watch a bunch of horses trot around in a circle. I get it, but, I am nuts. Spending hundreds of dollars to spend the day in the swampy, sweltering heat and humidity wearing a wool jacket and tall black boots, all to (maybe) get a 25 cent ribbon. If anyone is interested in coming out to Penfield to meet Chester and watch the show for a while, e-mail me (drsimpson17@yahoo.com) for details or directions. I know a few of you are curious to see why I am MIA every Sunday during the summer. We would love to see you! Have a great Sunday!
Next Sunday, we show at Centerpointe Stables, a farm just five minutes from our house. Yay! This is a show I usually invite those I know to come and watch, simply because it only takes a few minutes to get there. Auburn and Stanley are quite the hike for people to make, just to watch a bunch of horses trot around in a circle. I get it, but, I am nuts. Spending hundreds of dollars to spend the day in the swampy, sweltering heat and humidity wearing a wool jacket and tall black boots, all to (maybe) get a 25 cent ribbon. If anyone is interested in coming out to Penfield to meet Chester and watch the show for a while, e-mail me (drsimpson17@yahoo.com) for details or directions. I know a few of you are curious to see why I am MIA every Sunday during the summer. We would love to see you! Have a great Sunday!
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Six Month Check-Up
Justin went to visit Dr. Tomek yesterday. Once again, he is just about off the charts. He weighs in at 22 pounds (97th percentile) and is 29.5 inches long (over the 97th percentile). Justin was very good for the doctor...except when Dr. Tomek went to look into J-Man's ears. Justin wanted to play with the "toy" with the fun light on the end and kept on turning to look at it. He got a little upset that this man with the million dollar toy wouldn't let him play.
Once Dr. Tomek left the room, the lady with the pokey sticks came in. Three pokey sticks to be exact. J-Man endured three shots into his thighs, cried for less than a minute, and then proceeded to tell us how much he hates that Pokey Lady through low, long whiney grumbles. Then, all was well.
My niece, Hadyn, gets her very first horseback riding lesson today. She is very excited! I promised to let the girls ride on their own once they turned eight and Hadyn's 8th birthday was last Friday. She didn't waste any time taking me up on my offer. Hannah will ride, too, but I will lead her around. No solo ride for her for two more years.
We are headed down to the lake this evening for the 3rd of July festivities. Hopefully, the rain scoots out of here fast and we can enjoy the company, the lake, and the fireworks. Happy 4th of July, everyone!!
Once Dr. Tomek left the room, the lady with the pokey sticks came in. Three pokey sticks to be exact. J-Man endured three shots into his thighs, cried for less than a minute, and then proceeded to tell us how much he hates that Pokey Lady through low, long whiney grumbles. Then, all was well.
My niece, Hadyn, gets her very first horseback riding lesson today. She is very excited! I promised to let the girls ride on their own once they turned eight and Hadyn's 8th birthday was last Friday. She didn't waste any time taking me up on my offer. Hannah will ride, too, but I will lead her around. No solo ride for her for two more years.
We are headed down to the lake this evening for the 3rd of July festivities. Hopefully, the rain scoots out of here fast and we can enjoy the company, the lake, and the fireworks. Happy 4th of July, everyone!!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Weekend Horse Show Update
Chester and I had a great weekend at the show this past Sunday. We placed first in three classes and no lower than third in all of our riding classes. We ended up with High Point Open English Champion and received a brand new show bridle for our efforts. The really cool thing is that the bridle is of the same brand as my show saddle and it matches perfectly. I already have the same bridle (although it is a few years old) and it was $90 when I bought it, so the new bridle that I won covered the cost of my entry fees. It was a good day, indeed.
Next up, Westwind Farm Open Horse Show on July 13th!
Next up, Westwind Farm Open Horse Show on July 13th!
Monday, June 23, 2008
New Post Time...Finally!
It's been a while. Sorry for the delay.
Updates:
Justin:
J-Man is growing up so, so much! He is rolling around everywhere, sitting up when propped, and is very close to crawling. He is working hard on his coordination - he has great front end control and can drag himself around in a circle, but his knees haven't quite caught up yet. Soon. He is on to Stage 2 foods now, and LOVES carrots and apple-blueberries. This kid will sit with his mouth open like a baby bird for hours waiting for the carrots.
J is also in love with his Jumperoo. He gets jumping so fast that he tires himself out. He grumbles when he becomes tired, but gets cranky when he is removed from the Jumperoo.
Needless to say, Justin is doing very, very well. He has his six month (OMG!) check-up next Wednesday, so I will report back with the stats. I'm not a doctor or anything, but this kid is so big, he could play QB for the Bills. God knows they could use one.
Jeff:
Jeff began another grad class at the U of R last Monday. Still working toward his MBA, playing with The Revelers (join us on July 3rd at the Little Red Cottage to see them play!), and jamming when he can. He is a great dad and Justin just loves him to pieces. J-Man tells me that he misses that Daddy guy all day long and can't wait until he gets home at night. Jeff is still at Harris and doing quite well there. He is planning a trip to Vermont in August/September to camp and hike. He goes on a week-long solitary retreat every year to recharge. He has been attending music shows in Rochester and is looking forward to Summer Hours at work - four 10 hour days with (most) Fridays off. Justin and I are looking forward to this, too!!
Tyson:
Ty is as cute as ever. All day alone in the house yesterday with no accidents, but will poop on the rug when we are all home and standing next to the door. Go figure.
I realized today how much he is beginning to enjoy just being a dog. I usually don't just let him outside to stay without being tied up and, if I do, it's usually just long enough for him to go potty and then be let back in. Today, however, I was busy doing approximately three and a half billion things and just let Ty out into the backyard. When I went to retrieve him, he was in the middle of the yard, rolling in the grass, and laying in the sun. He grabbed a stick and began to demolish it. It made me smile to see the little mutt just living in the moment. A reminder to us all, perhaps?
Horse Activities:
Show season is underway! Three shows under our belt and it's going pretty well. A few high point championships and several blue ribbons. Chester is (mostly) behaving himself, and that's all I really ask for. We are improving every week on our Showmanship skills and had an absolutely killer pattern in one of our classes at yesterday's show (first place under both judges!). Chester is still quite orally fixated and likes to bite at my hand during Showmanship patterns, but we're working on that, too. I think it's time to bust out the cayenne pepper spray and coat my hand and lead line with it. Let's hope Chester isn't into Cajun cuisine. This weekend, we travel to Ionia for another open show. We will continue to prepare for the State Fair in August and the Pinto World Championship Show in Tulsa, OK in 2010.
This And That:
I added two more of my favorite websites to the list: http://ihasahotdog.com/ - like I Can Has Cheezburger, but for you Dog Lovers out there - and http://punditkitchen.com/ - political funnies. Check them out!
Updates:
Justin:
J-Man is growing up so, so much! He is rolling around everywhere, sitting up when propped, and is very close to crawling. He is working hard on his coordination - he has great front end control and can drag himself around in a circle, but his knees haven't quite caught up yet. Soon. He is on to Stage 2 foods now, and LOVES carrots and apple-blueberries. This kid will sit with his mouth open like a baby bird for hours waiting for the carrots.
J is also in love with his Jumperoo. He gets jumping so fast that he tires himself out. He grumbles when he becomes tired, but gets cranky when he is removed from the Jumperoo.
Needless to say, Justin is doing very, very well. He has his six month (OMG!) check-up next Wednesday, so I will report back with the stats. I'm not a doctor or anything, but this kid is so big, he could play QB for the Bills. God knows they could use one.
Jeff:
Jeff began another grad class at the U of R last Monday. Still working toward his MBA, playing with The Revelers (join us on July 3rd at the Little Red Cottage to see them play!), and jamming when he can. He is a great dad and Justin just loves him to pieces. J-Man tells me that he misses that Daddy guy all day long and can't wait until he gets home at night. Jeff is still at Harris and doing quite well there. He is planning a trip to Vermont in August/September to camp and hike. He goes on a week-long solitary retreat every year to recharge. He has been attending music shows in Rochester and is looking forward to Summer Hours at work - four 10 hour days with (most) Fridays off. Justin and I are looking forward to this, too!!
Tyson:
Ty is as cute as ever. All day alone in the house yesterday with no accidents, but will poop on the rug when we are all home and standing next to the door. Go figure.
I realized today how much he is beginning to enjoy just being a dog. I usually don't just let him outside to stay without being tied up and, if I do, it's usually just long enough for him to go potty and then be let back in. Today, however, I was busy doing approximately three and a half billion things and just let Ty out into the backyard. When I went to retrieve him, he was in the middle of the yard, rolling in the grass, and laying in the sun. He grabbed a stick and began to demolish it. It made me smile to see the little mutt just living in the moment. A reminder to us all, perhaps?
Horse Activities:
Show season is underway! Three shows under our belt and it's going pretty well. A few high point championships and several blue ribbons. Chester is (mostly) behaving himself, and that's all I really ask for. We are improving every week on our Showmanship skills and had an absolutely killer pattern in one of our classes at yesterday's show (first place under both judges!). Chester is still quite orally fixated and likes to bite at my hand during Showmanship patterns, but we're working on that, too. I think it's time to bust out the cayenne pepper spray and coat my hand and lead line with it. Let's hope Chester isn't into Cajun cuisine. This weekend, we travel to Ionia for another open show. We will continue to prepare for the State Fair in August and the Pinto World Championship Show in Tulsa, OK in 2010.
This And That:
I added two more of my favorite websites to the list: http://ihasahotdog.com/ - like I Can Has Cheezburger, but for you Dog Lovers out there - and http://punditkitchen.com/ - political funnies. Check them out!
Monday, June 09, 2008
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Justin To Mission Control...
...the asteroid has been destroyed, saving the entire Earth from annihilation. Please inform the president. Over and out.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Just Like Mommy...
Here is picture of Justin with his foot in his mouth. He definately gets this from me.
Thanks to Grandma Simpson for the picture!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Hilarious Website
For those of you who need a smile, please feel free to check out http://icanhascheezburger.com/
Very cute and funny pictures with even cuter and funnier captions. Here are a few samples of my favorites:
Very cute and funny pictures with even cuter and funnier captions. Here are a few samples of my favorites:
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Faux-Hawk
Never let it be said that Justin is not up with the times. Even though he is only five months old, he can still sport the latest hair-styles. Check out his Faux-Hawk:
Is my kid rad, or what?
At any rate, J-Man is feeling a little better everyday. However, today, he is still coughing quite a bit. His cough is more productive today and I am hoping that the yuckies are on their way out. J is sleeping a lot during the day, but he is eating well (bananas are his new fave) and he is still a happy boy. Even when he is sick, he is still a smiley boy. He definately gets that from Jeff. Justin slept through the night last night, which, hopefully, means this cold is almost outta here.
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